A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that Medicare beneficiaries completed about 60 million telehealth visits annually between 2021 and 2023, highlighting the continued role of virtual care following the pandemic.
According to research led by Terrence Liu of the University of Utah, roughly 31 million visits were related to mental health services, while about 29 million were for other medical concerns. The analysis drew on data from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey.
The study also found that patients using telehealth were often sicker or faced mobility and functional barriers, suggesting virtual care plays an important role in improving access for higher-need populations.
Interest in telehealth remains strong as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services continues to support reimbursement policies that allow providers to offer virtual services. Researchers note that while telehealth expands access, further study is still needed to evaluate long-term quality and outcomes compared with in-person care.
Resource: Medicare beneficiaries log 60 million telehealth visits annually